Handicap Bathroom Guide Tips

Common Errors in ADA Compliance Construction

There are several mistakes that are made when building to ADA compliance construction. With restrooms and shower facilities, there are some errors that are more common than others. Here are a few to keep your eye out for on your next ADA compliant construction project. • Restrooms – Many restrooms with over five separate toilet stalls lack the required “ambulatory” stall dimensions. ADA compliant construction requires at least one stall with 36 inch wide accessibility. People with wheelchairs or canes have limited mobility and need this size to properly and safely use the restroom. • Bathing Facilities – If you provide your handicap users with a shower facility, you will use a transfer show to assist them in getting in and out of the shower. There is a required size for these at 36” x 36”. You would think that the common error is in making these too small, but it is really in making them too large. When made too large, users can slide and fall off of the seat and hit the floor. There can also be complications in being able to reach the shower controls. Be on the look out for these common errors in ADA compliance construction. The fines aren't worth not following the rules extra closely.

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The Importance of a Grab Bar in a Handicap Bathroom

Imagine yourself without the use of your legs or lower body. Think about the performing the simplest tasks and how much harder they would be. Using the bathroom would be near the top of this list. This is why having a grab bar in a handicap restroom is so important.

A grab bar provides a handicap person with a point of leverage from which they can assist themselves on and off of the toilet. Upper body strength takes over the responsibilities that we take for granted in our lower bodies. With a grab bar, the job is still tedious, but far easier than without a grab bar.

If you have a restroom that provides handicap access, having a grab bar is the most basic of needs. Be sure to provide at least one grab bar, depending on the design of your restroom, for your handicap guests. Just go back and imagine yourself in the same position if you ever wonder why again.

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The Depth of a Proper ADA Hand Dryer

When installing a new bathroom facility in a newly constructed building it is extra important to conform to ADA specified rules and regulations. If you are including the required automatic hand dryers, you will want to pay attention to the regulations regarding their installation. One of the most important regulation with an ADA hand dryer is its depth from the wall. The depth with which an ADA hand dryer protrudes from the wall it is installed on is important because if too deep, it could be hazardous. Most hand dryers do not have sensors that will alert blind users to their presence. Because of this, the ADA hand dryer specifications state that the air dryer must not protrude from the wall more than 4 inches. Any further, and a blind user would have a great chance of bumping into it since there is no alert to its presence. Make sure you follow handicap bathroom guide set forth for ADA hand dryer installation. These rules are not arbitrary; they are for the safety of your patrons.

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Braille - A Necessity for ADA Hand Dryers

Braille is a staple of ADA regulations. In most public areas, Braille is a requirement for compliance. There is also a requirement for properly approved ADA hand dryers that states the instructions for use must be available in Braille on the unit. With the heat generated by hand dryers, those without sight need to have a way of knowing the proper operation without the chance of burning themselves. ADA hand dryers are only approved if there is Braille available and it contains the proper information regarding operation and temperatures. If you are purchasing automatic hand dryers for your facilities, be sure to double check that your manufacturer complies with all of the ADA requirements, including easily accessible Braille.

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Requirements for a Handicap Hand Dryer

For public restrooms, there are many regulations regarding handicap access and it's a good idea to read up on all of the rules and regulations in a handicap bathroom guide. When it comes to hand dryers, there are few requirements that stand out. One, however, is glaring and, thanks to modern technology, is easy to conform with. ADA requirements state that a handicap hand dryer must require non-controlled delivery of the air. This means that the units in handicap stalls must be touchfree or motion activated. Disabled persons would have a hard time in many instances with pushing the button to make the dryer activate. A properly accessible handicap hand dryer will only require the user to wave their hands beneath the dryer to start it. This small reduction in effort makes a world of difference for people unable to perform the many simple actions the healthy take for granted. Make sure you provide motion activated handicap hand dryers for your patron if you run a restaurant, gas station, or other facility offering handicap accessible restrooms.

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Custom Made Handicap Grab Bars

While there are federal and state regulations dealing with requirements in handicap grab bars, there are different styles you can purchase. Most of these regulations deal with the make-up and sturdiness requirements of the grab bars and not with their look. If you want to conform to regulations by providing handicap grab bars in your restrooms but don't want to cramp your style, you have solutions. Many major manufacturers who have been making restroom fixtures for decades can now provide handicap grab bars to better match your style.

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Finding Handicap Bathroom Fixtures

If you operate public restrooms in your store, restaurant, or other place of business, you will need to get handicap bathroom fixtures to conform to common courtesy as well as many state codes. Finding handicap bathroom fixtures is easy if you know where to look. Here is a handicap bathroom guide on some places where you can start. First, use the same Internet where you are reading this. There are many online vendors of handicap bathroom fixtures who can offer you better pricing from operating on the web. Pricing varies greatly when it comes to handicap bathroom fixtures so be sure to shop around for the best deals. Also, you can check with major bathroom fixture manufacturers. Style does not have to go to the wayside when it comes to handicap bathroom fixtures. Today, many major manufacturers can provide you with more finished grab bars and other accessories which will better match your facilities. Lastly, if you are unsure of either of the first two options, you can call you code enforcer to get suggestions. As these handicap bathroom fixtures are requirements, these offices should be able to point you in the direction of approved manufacturers that can supply your needs.

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Replacing a Loose Grab Bar

If you have handicap bathroom stalls in your restrooms, you need to keep safety a priority. After years of usage, these handicap restroom accessories will wear down like anything else. One of the most important handicap restroom accessories are grab bars, and they can go quickly. When you notice one of your grab bars may be getting loose from the wall, you need to address the problem immediately. Any future user could pull it completely from the wall and you could be facing serious fines and possible lawsuits. With a loose grab bar, you are often faced with totally replacing it when it loosens. These are typically anchored into the wall and if they loosen, this means the anchors have gone bad. Usually, this will mean that you will need to drill out new spaces for the wall anchors. You may be able to reuse the original grab bar once you have new anchors in place. However, be sure that you don't need a whole new bar. Again, just picture the consequences of not doing it right.

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Furnishing Your Own Bathroom with Handicap Bathroom Accessories

Handicap bathroom accessories are not only available for your home, but they are often tragically necessary. In the face of an unexpected accident or disease, or just aging, we need safety in our own homes, and bathrooms are no exception. Most slip and falls occur in either the bathroom or the kitchen. To be safe, if you are faced with the unfortunate, install handicap bathroom accessories in your home. There are many retailers and manufacturers that produce and sell handicap bathroom accessories. From handrails to transfer shower seats, you can get the needed safety without sacrificing your décor. Many manufacturers provide varying styles of handicap bathroom accessories for the home. Nobody wants their home to look like a public restroom and these manufacturers are helping greatly. If you need them, don't be ashamed. Safety is the most important thing and installing handicap bathroom accessories will surely increase the safety of your home.

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Having a Handicap Bathroom - Not Just Polite, It's the Law

For people running restaurants, there are many codes that you will want to keep your eye on because they can lead to big problems down the road. One code that stays out of the kitchen is the need to provide handicap access to your restrooms. Codes vary depending on where you operate so you will want to be sure to conform to the appropriate measures, but there are basics to the handicap bathroom that are pretty universal. Here is a basic handicap bathroom guide: You will need at least one stall in your bathroom that is wide enough to accommodate wheelchair access. Many of the handicaps need these chairs and therefore need these types of openings in a handicap bathroom. Also, you will need to install grab bars. These are metal rails that people can use to assist themselves in getting onto and off of the toilet. In a handicap bathroom, grab bars are a must. There are many other specific regulations that are far too long to list here. Look into what you need to do by contacting you state code officer and getting details.

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